I fell out of my boat (not MOB)

[tailwind]

I don't load or offload boat things except at the dock at the beginning or end of the season. In the off chance that I do need to transfer things to or from the boat while on the hard, I use a rope. I use a collapsible folding ladder tied to the top rung of the boarding ladder. I always pause a moment before going up or down to focus on what I am about to do...

 

[seafox]

Ditto>>>>>>>>>>>>..always>>>>>>>no Exceptions!

always, Always Always Tie Off The Ladder Up Top.

Did I Mention Always?

 

[gmcrae]

This.

http://www.toolup.com/telesteps_1600et_125-ft-type-1a-black-telescoping-ladder-300-pounds.aspx

get an 8 foot aluminum telescoping ladder, set it to 11 or 12 feet, get it solid and go up and tie it to a safety stanchion next to where you remove the safety lines to board. have someone hand the gear up while you are half way up the ladder.

 

[We2Sail12113]

Stupid ladder.....What do you guys use thats safe and secure and doesn't weigh a ton to access the boat when it's on the hard....

I only need 9'... an 8' folding ladder is too short, a 12' is too bulky and heavy,,,

:snip

I use an (folded) 8 foot aluminum extension ladder, it has "extruded" steps (flat on top of each rung). Will extend to around 12 - 14 feet, is light weight and rustproof, and still can fit in my min-van.

For Marine Yardwork, I have one of those multi-stage $119 folding ladders. Fully extended is about 12 feet or so, and folds down to a compact 4 feet (maybe 5 feet), again with the flat on top of each rung.

Unlike a normal "extension ladder" with claws to hold the position, this other one uses spring loaded "U" pins, and each rung is made to receive the "U" pin to positively lock it intro place. Someone else mentioned this on sale at Lowes.

The one thing it does NOT have, and I miss greatly, is the shelf that most stepladders near the top rung.

And, by the way, after seeing my Dad and his partner Archie get hospitalized when the wind took their ladders down (not fastened to the building), and having a ladder fall out under me (no damage except to ego), I ALWAYS tie the top or near top of the ladder to some permanent part of the boat.

YMMV

Bob

 

[gregrosine]

ladder and scaffolding

I use a telescoping ladder that I tie to the back of the boat at the swim platform. I also bought some scaffolding at Lowes that we use when waxing the hull. The scaffolding works great and the ladder has a canvas carrying case that fits nicely in the trunk of or car.

 

[phennessey]

Try the Little Giant ladder. There very stable and adjustable in height and stance.

 

[bffatcat]

how not to fall off a ladder

1.get a light weight adjustable aluminum ladder with flat steps

2 adjust the lladder to the proper height and put it against the rub rail

3 tie a line on a rung you can reach from the ground

4 climb up the ladder carefully taking the tied off line up to the declk and wrap it around a winch 1 wrap

5 go back down the ladder taking the end of the wrapped line with you and tie it off on a wrung you can reach the ground from thats it

when your finished climb down the ladder untie it and pull the line off the winch

Im 77 Ive had back surgery and have lousy balance I have never fallen off a ladder using
the above system

 

[The Garbone]

We use a standard extension ladder. Wrap rags and around the spots that touch the boat to avoid abrasion.

It should always be tied off at the top with at least 3 rungs above the deck. Make sure you get the proper angle, with your feet on the feet of the ladder your arms should be fully extended and parallel to the ground holding the rails of the ladder.
If you can not get the 3 rungs at the proper angle and the ladder is too short.

We generally use a hand line to load and offload stuff from the boat. Heavy stuff requires gloves and possibly a wrap around a cleat.

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

I've actually done the same thing - twice in different ways! Since my modest 21'daysailor is 'dry-sailed' I must get into the boat for various things before heading for the water every time. First time: pretty funny; I parked alongside, tossed my gear in, pulled the ladder out and stepped in. before I cleared the ladder the bow did a "wheelie" and I was on the grass looking up at the dog - didn't really hurt anything.Hmm maybe THAT's why I always hook up as soon as I get there!
Second time, at Lake George, not so funny. We were rigging at the marina in the mud-puddled gravel area when I missed the last step on the ladder. Hurt like H@**$%.

 

[bffatcat]

how not to fall off a ladder

1. get a light weight aluminum ladder with flat rungs set it against the toe rail
2. Take a piece of line and tie it to a rung you can reach from the ground
3. climb the ladder carefully taking the end of the tied off line with you
4 . take it around a winch 1/2 wrap only
5. climb down the ladder with the line and tie it securely to a rung you can reach
6. Im 76 Ive had back surgery My balance is iffy

Ive never fallen
























































1. get a light weight aluminum adjustable ladder with flat wrungs
2. Tie a piece of line to a wrung you can reach from the ground
3. carefully cli using this methodmb up to the deck and take a 1/2 wrap around a winch
4. climb down bring the end of the line with you tie it off securely to a wrung you can reach from the ground Thats it
The ladder should not move
5. when you`re finished lloosen one of the ties and and pull the line off the winch

Im 76 Ive had back surgery and Ive got iffy balance Ive never fallen using this method













































11
























ch from the
ground

 

[Nelsonhow]

Ouch!

I use 1 section of an old extension ladder that comes up about 2 feet over the top of the cockpit. I run it up the stern of the boat where the ladder is. I let the boarding ladder down when using the extension ladder and I tie the ladder to the rail with a short bit of line to make sure it stays in place.

I also use a cloth/plastic shopping bag with handles to lower and bring things up when ever possible.

 

[shemandr]

Don't even risk a fall, mates. I've seen so many lives transformed, for the worse, by a fall. It gets worse with age. But I know one young guy who fell out of a tree stand (Probably less than 1 story) and became a quadriplegic. I can think of many others who have been permanently harmed by a fall, often not even at height. When you think it can't happen, think again.

 

[capejt]

I use a folding ladder. It unfolds and extends to a total length of twelve feet.

Although it didn't happen on the hard, this thread reminds me of an accident I had about two years ago. I was moving from the dock to the boat at extreme low tide, in the dark with nobody else around. I did one those "sitting on the dock, jump down to the cockpit coaming" maneuvers. I landed with one foot on the wet coaming and before my other foot landed, I slipped and went flying into the cockpit. I landed face down with my chest square on winch! Now, I'm a big guy (6'3" and 300 lbs). I ended up fracturing a rib which put me out of commission for several months. I can't even begin to describe the pain. I had to wait several hours for the tide to come in enough that I could even get back to the dock.
Moral of the story... whether on the hard or in the drink, "Let's be careful out there!"

 

[petersea]

OK first sorry to hear you fell................I don't mean this response to be rude but you kind of all ready know the answer is to tie or in someway secure ANY ladder. Use the three point method of climbing or descending any ladder....meaning have three of your four arms and legs in contact at all times. Use a bucket and rope to lift/lower gear up and down rather then carry. Other suggestion about flat rung ladders are also good ideas. Sometimes just slowing down a little and thinking things out with a safety first attitude prevents most mishaps . Hope you feel better ! !

 

[zeehag]

try tying ladder to boat. use longest halyard to lift items to boat deck. if you are like po of this boat i have, halyards may well be long enough to use from ground, if halyards re not that long, rig a block and tackle usable from ground level. you may need to use boom to for accessing deck with goods.
be safe

 

[Roadking Larry]

Here is my "shipyard" boarding system.
24' extension ladder tied off at the top.



I'm hoping to get ths tihng in the water within the next 2 weeks. I hate going up and down a ladder

 

[redhead78]

As a contractor and being on ladders and scaffolds most of my working life, I have come to the conclusion, like 95% of the accidents are made by the guy on it. If I pass a house and see a guy on a ladder and someone holding it its probably someone who really should not be on it. A properly set up ladder needs no one at the bottom holding it.This just gives opportunity for a second person to get hurt. If you don,t feel right at the height or whatever follow your gut and get down.Every time I hurt myself over the years, has been because I took a shortcut, and did not use ladder properly. I don,t say this to be a know it all, Larry you might be a little more comfortable on your set-up a couple of degrees steeper. If you bring the bottom in say a foot you will see the "D" shaped rungs will be closer to parallel to the ground, and you may feel more secure, also when you dismount and mount the ladder at the top you will be more secure. At any rate Squidd you r on the money, these simple looking thingsreally hurt you if used unsafely. Be safe...Red

 

[Roadking Larry]

It isn't so much the ladder, it's just having my butt off the ground.
And in my slight defense, after you mentoned it I remember that I had loosened the ropes at top and pulled the bottom of the ladder out some to give me a little extra room doing the bottom paint. I'll pull it back up some tomorrow when I'm using it agan.

 

[Doc_holiday]

I've learned lessons with ladders but still find myself cutting corners with them. One time I had a service call on a rooftop unit at a strip mall. Extension ladder fully extended, I climbed up and set my tool bag down to get the bungee to tie the ladder off. The ladder caught the wind and went before I could grasp it.

I realized I could cross the roofs and get to the grocery roof which I took care of, they had a door to the compressor room. I banged and of course no one heard me. I walked to the front to get the attention of a bag boy but saw none. I remembered there was a 4" gas line on the back of the building I could shimmy down.

I climbed on the gas line and slowly worked my way down when all of the sudden, I felt a sharp tear on my leg. Seems they wrapped the bottom 12 feet with barbed wire to keep kids from climbing up. Needless to say the last part was not fun.

 

[redhead78]

yikes....Red